tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6673179650846701039.post936506123700792363..comments2018-12-13T02:07:02.522+11:00Comments on <a href="http://www.markdurie.com">markdurie.com blog</a>: A Dozen Bad Ideas for the 21st CenturyMark Duriehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18024979657079255161noreply@blogger.comBlogger21125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6673179650846701039.post-85576008670879320442017-01-09T02:20:44.874+11:002017-01-09T02:20:44.874+11:00Dear mister Durie, Thank you for your blog and for...Dear mister Durie, Thank you for your blog and for your optimism. I have read all your books and watched your dvd&#39;s and love your work. Sometimes I am pessimistic; I study Theology at uni and recognize all the above listed arguments/bad ideas from class discussions. Sometimes it is overwhelming to even go against all of this, but your analysis of all these bad ideas and how to counter them as well as your optimism do encourage me a lot. Thank you for all your work.Sonjahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03227841477276577948noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6673179650846701039.post-15678107140461191822015-02-11T09:35:53.585+11:002015-02-11T09:35:53.585+11:00Hi James and KC. I think this is basically a sub-...Hi James and KC. I think this is basically a sub-theme of the &#39;West is guilty&#39; theme - point 10. The reason for the Crusades was just - a war to liberate the largely Christian holy land. But the means used by Crusaders were often completely wrong. Sacking Constantinople, conducting progroms against Jews etc: these things were wicked disasters. The Crusaders were many of them Vikings a few generations on, and they took with them a pagan lust for booty and conquest. Their cause was just, but they were far from being heroes.Mark Duriehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/18024979657079255161noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6673179650846701039.post-3291522895003942022015-02-11T09:27:10.123+11:002015-02-11T09:27:10.123+11:00Mark, I just now have read your blog and the comme...Mark, I just now have read your blog and the comments. I wonder what your response to KC would be.James Franklinnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6673179650846701039.post-79391798888827174892015-01-06T00:07:33.838+11:002015-01-06T00:07:33.838+11:00The point was not that the crusades were bad, but ...The point was not that the crusades were bad, but that this is an example of the two wrongs made a right reasoning in the eyes of the person making the argument.Mark Duriehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/18024979657079255161noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6673179650846701039.post-34948727654412484572015-01-05T18:51:25.890+11:002015-01-05T18:51:25.890+11:00Were the crusades bad? That sounds like a moderni...Were the crusades bad? That sounds like a modernist re-writing of history to me. Weren&#39;t the crusades a response to aggressive Islamic expansionism?Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6673179650846701039.post-10939150493457214532014-01-21T09:07:20.925+11:002014-01-21T09:07:20.925+11:00I think these dozen bad ideas for the 21st century...I think these dozen bad ideas for the 21st century are prescient with one exception. Extremists are folks who cannot tolerate viewpoints that challenge or contradict their own perspectives, regardless of realistic contrary evidence. Indeed, it is contrary evidence that sends them into a fury and they strive to silence the &quot;offending&quot; perspective, thought, theory or idea. In this way, extremists of the left and right are identical. They do differ in what those perspectives are. So communists espouse an unrealistic pseudo-equality ethic that was never practiced while Nazis espoused an unrealistic particularist ethic. Neither could tolerate expression of any counter-thought. And if you were not a Jew, Gypsy, or other &quot;racially defined unter-mensch&quot;, life under both regimes was remarkably similar. Secret police, children informing on unacceptable parental conversations, propaganda taken as literal truth etc. However, the sine qua non common to both extremist regime types was the absolute intolerance of contrary thought evidenced in speech, writing or other behavioral expression. This is where &quot;Political Correctness&quot; is taking us today, but most folks don&#39;t think about it like that or they would be continually challenging groundless but politically correct pronouncements. . D.N. Toronto CanadaAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6673179650846701039.post-66276124263914875242013-03-22T00:11:52.235+11:002013-03-22T00:11:52.235+11:00I believe that by educating women in the Islamic c...I believe that by educating women in the Islamic countries will bring on some changes. The women are being kept in the darkness by not being allowed to question anything written in the Koran. Ignorance is a very powerful tool when an evil is intended.<br />Islam is being taught as an ideology that must not be questioned or understood, only followed.<br />No one, in his/her right mind would follow an ideology so drenched in violence against the &#39;other&#39; if allowed to question or depart from it. The reason there are so many followers of Islam is the threat of death for apostasy.<br />I work with Muslims and any time I pose a question re Islam, I am vehemently shut down by a chorus of &quot;...that is not true, read the Koran, it proclaims peace and love...&quot; - but not one single time has anyone among them condemned the actions of the extremists! That alone speaks volumes and we better pay a close attention to it. Our political correctness and ignorance of their ideology and commands will be our undoing, as a society upholding democratic principles.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6673179650846701039.post-73652127575692623742012-09-18T13:15:58.292+10:002012-09-18T13:15:58.292+10:00Good interview with Dr. Schieder.
I get the langua...Good interview with Dr. Schieder.<br />I get the language perspective: I&#39;m not a native English speaker, so I have always listened a little closer for my own more accurate processing of what I heard. <br />I have noticed, over the past 2-3 decades, that &#39;pundits&#39; would minimalise that which they did not understand: &quot;that&#39;s not what they meant&quot; has become a catchall for lazy &#39;news reporters&#39;, especially in regards to islam. <br />I also experienced what Dr. Schieder described of her classroom experience:students who just did not think, and ridiculed anyone who questioned anything. Frustrating!<br />I appreciate Dr. Durie&#39;s interview for more historical information, and giving me a better perspective of this islam spreading across the planet. I will use the information in conversations with Christians, with the hoped for result that they think, and act on their faith.<br />Thank you for an interesting and enlightening interview.Teddy Levinoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6673179650846701039.post-90633409464352292662012-09-09T18:07:07.215+10:002012-09-09T18:07:07.215+10:00Judge Bob - you are welcome to do so. Let me know...Judge Bob - you are welcome to do so. Let me know when you put it up. MarkMark Duriehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/18024979657079255161noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6673179650846701039.post-41118233672674374162012-09-09T08:00:49.510+10:002012-09-09T08:00:49.510+10:00This is a great post. One of the best on the web....This is a great post. One of the best on the web. May I cross post with links back here and full attribution? http://JudgeRight.blogspot.comJudge Bobhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10955393940240711513noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6673179650846701039.post-43500487696134445412012-07-01T07:04:37.335+10:002012-07-01T07:04:37.335+10:00I so much agree with the ideas you express. And as...I so much agree with the ideas you express. And as a long-time college prof, I had to deal, semester after semester, with students adamantly holding onto the dozen bad ideas. In fact, that was one impetus for leaving teaching, and going toward a larger forum. It was so frustrating teaching one group, only to be faced with the same situation all over again.Elsahttp://www.elsas-word-story-image-idea-music-emporium.com/noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6673179650846701039.post-1097929433914473472011-02-15T13:56:07.431+11:002011-02-15T13:56:07.431+11:00Bill&#39;s comment is also mistaken because in fac...Bill&#39;s comment is also mistaken because in fact people did not make comments about Judaism in the 1930s, or earlier for that matter, similar to those critics of Islam make today. <br /><br />Few people - perhaps none of any influence - feared that Jews would try to convert the world, impose Mosaic law upon Christians and seculars, or bully everyone into Old Testament-style clothing. If anything, the popular press and ideologues associated Jews with secularism, agnosticism, and Communism, as well as undue influence in the sphere of international finance. Doesn&#39;t sound much like anything said about Islam today, does it? <br /><br />To these commonplace ideas, some of which might have contained a grain of truth, if no more, the Nazis added many nonsensical ones: that Jews were determined to seduce Christian girls and boys; that they were lustful and prone to rape; that they were parasites on western civilization; that the mixing of their blood with that of Aryans would weaken the latter and make them lazy and cowardly, and other equally absurd notions. Some of this stuff does sound a bit more like the accusations made against Muslims today. So I don&#39;t know. <br /><br />But whether critics are right or wrong about Muslims as a group, it is true that groups of people with widely varying conceptions of right and wrong, including beliefs about food, marriage, family, sexuality, and other fundamental matters, find it very difficult to create or maintain a functional society with a strong sense of the rule of law. <br /><br />That&#39;s the reason why relations between the Left and Right in the western world (especially the US) have become so difficult in recent years: the gap between what either side thinks is right and wrong grows too big for compromise and cannot be organized along political party lines. And that&#39;s why adding yet another group to this volatile mixture - radical or potentially radical Muslims - is not a good idea. Their presence may and probably will exacerbate an already fraught situation.<br /><br />LiseLLiseLnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6673179650846701039.post-56097530307172617962011-02-14T12:17:05.919+11:002011-02-14T12:17:05.919+11:00Plus, the Crusades were a response to Islamic aggr...Plus, the Crusades were a response to Islamic aggression, so it&#39;s not exactly a great defense of the Jihadis to bring them up.Brett_McShttps://www.blogger.com/profile/18395081638073964244noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6673179650846701039.post-29681961513984892292011-02-14T08:10:06.610+11:002011-02-14T08:10:06.610+11:00David - me too, I am an optimist too. No - optimis...David - me too, I am an optimist too. No - optimism is not incompatible with these thoughts.Mark Duriehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/18024979657079255161noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6673179650846701039.post-32870547066337414212011-02-14T06:27:29.165+11:002011-02-14T06:27:29.165+11:00If I&#39;m still an optimist, but agree with every...If I&#39;m still an optimist, but agree with everything you just said, does that mean that I&#39;m holding two incongruous ideas in my head at the same time?Davidhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11377750701381255366noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6673179650846701039.post-44547189133692823852011-02-14T04:03:36.133+11:002011-02-14T04:03:36.133+11:0013. Belief that the Crusades were wrong. The Crusa...13. Belief that the Crusades were wrong. The Crusades were a heroic though failed attempt to restore a previously existing order, that is, the hegemony of Christian civilization all around the Mediterranean basin. That this happy state of affairs was undone 1400 years ago by the still-present invaders from the east should not make us resign hope of redressment. The Crusaders are heroes of our culture.KCnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6673179650846701039.post-60068824331013652332011-02-14T03:22:55.011+11:002011-02-14T03:22:55.011+11:00Ah yes, the &quot;that&#39;s what people said abou...Ah yes, the &quot;that&#39;s what people said about Jews&quot; &quot;argument.&quot;<br /><br />Let&#39;s see what Jews say about themselves: &quot;We&#39;re planning on converting everyone to Judaism and taking over the world&quot;? Nope.<br /><br />&quot;Behead everyone who reject Judaism&quot;? Nope again.<br /><br />Anyone can say anything about anybody. What matters is what they say about themselves.<br /><br />What Hitler said about the Jews was incorrect.<br /><br />What people are saying today about Islam is correct.<br /><br />Big difference.Kathy Shaidlehttp://www.fivefeetoffury.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6673179650846701039.post-11994029823957889452011-02-12T10:13:44.110+11:002011-02-12T10:13:44.110+11:00Bill considers that what I write about Western sec...Bill considers that what I write about Western secular worldviews is not worthy of a reasoned response, because he &#39;wonders&#39; whether I would have been an antisemitic Nazi sympathizer in the 1930&#39;s. He has a &#39;pretty good idea&#39; what the answer to his wonderment is. <br />What a plum example of incitement to hatred and flight from reason on his part - those twin ills which beset so many in these confused times.Mark Duriehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/18024979657079255161noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6673179650846701039.post-64053802425224637242011-02-12T03:49:16.403+11:002011-02-12T03:49:16.403+11:00Similar sentiments were expressed about Judaism in...Similar sentiments were expressed about Judaism in the 1930s. I wonder what the position of Roger, 1389, or indeed the author of the blog himself, would have been toward Judaism back in the days when these sentiments were widespread concerning that religion. Reading comments such as &quot;it is vital for their spiritual well being to reject ....&quot; and &quot;... can never be a part of a free and western society&quot; gives us a pretty good idea I would say.Billnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6673179650846701039.post-33769736387541489432011-02-10T22:20:25.893+11:002011-02-10T22:20:25.893+11:00Finally somebody is speaking some common sense whi...Finally somebody is speaking some common sense which is so rare these day&#39;s.!Islam can never be a part of a free and western society.Just like multiculturalism does not work and its killing us slowly, the politicians have their heads in the sand, because of the PC Gestapo.Rogernoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6673179650846701039.post-65054334919120405842011-02-10T16:50:29.070+11:002011-02-10T16:50:29.070+11:00It&#39;s certainly about time somebody said all of...It&#39;s certainly about time somebody said all of this. <br /><br />Why is it considered &quot;politically incorrect&quot; to say that it behooves us to make a strong, worldwide effort to debunk Islam and to persuade its adherents that it is vital for their spiritual well-being to reject Islam, despite the physical dangers of so doing?1389https://www.blogger.com/profile/04335705483244616965noreply@blogger.com